WILMINGTON- Traveling to Stratton for a rematch of last week’s 4-0 win, the Twin Valley Wildcats won another blowout Saturday afternoon, but finally had their shutout streak halted at 10 games. “At some point we had to get that nonsense taken care of,” said coach Buddy Hayford jokingly. “The fact is it never hurts in that situation to give up a goal because it makes the boys work a little harder.”

As if Hayford’s boys could work any harder, they came out of a chippy, aggressive, and sometimes ugly game with a 7-1 victory, with Nick Nilsen and Dal Nesbitt each scoring a pair of goals. Nilsen got the Wildcats started 14 minutes into the first half with a redirect off an Eli Park shot from the top of the penalty box. Nesbitt got a pass from Colin Lozito 19 minutes later to score the deciding goal, while Nilsen added another goal off a bicycle kick assist from, again, Lozito.

Stratton would score the first goal against Twin Valley keeper Sam Molner four minutes into the second half as Spencer Smith knocked in a penalty shot. Molner was unable to get to the ball due to being held back in the crowded goalie box. With that first goal of the year out of the way, Twin Valley took over the game once and for all. Troy Felisko scored two minutes later and in the last 10 minutes of regulation, Skylar Boyd and Nesbitt scored, while Jacob Hicks knocked in his first goal of the year on Baylee Crawford’s first assist of the year.

While Molner recorded four saves for the Wildcats, Eric Stohler saved 21 for Stratton.

TV 6, Bellows Falls 0

BELLOWS FALLS- The Wildcats sealed the Marble Valley League championship Monday night, defeating Bellows Falls in a school-record-tying 11th shutout of the season. They didn’t have to do too much to capture it though, as Sam Molner and Kyle Murdock combined for two saves in the net for Twin Valley.

The ‘Cats came out slow. It was what coach Hayford called a “classic Monday looking game,” but the Twin Valley boys heated up eventually, scoring four goals in the second half for the second straight game. But it was Troy Felisko’s freshman leg that began the scoring 12 minutes in off one of Dal Nesbitt’s trademark long-bomb throw-ins.

Nesbitt once again assisted on the next play, threading a through-ball to Colin Lozito who ripped a left foot shot for the 2-0 lead. Lozito would score again in the second half, nailing a penalty kick, followed by two goals from Nesbitt, eight and 10 minutes later respectively. Nick Nilsen piled on the final goal with two minutes to play, burying a shot from six yards out.

Lozito and Nesbitt ended the game with a combined four goals and four assists.

“We’re looking at an undefeated season,” said Hayford, “that’s the goal. To lose a game during a campaign is always a possibility, but we don’t go out there to lose.”

TV 10,Windsor 0

Shutout is a word that has become synonymous with the Twin Valley boys’ soccer team this season, and with a win over Windsor Wednesday night at Baker Field, the Wildcats set the school record for shutouts in a season with 12. The Wildcats also reached a record of 13-0 with their 10-0 victory, and with one game left in the season they’re knocking on the door of an undefeated season, all while out-scoring their opponents 73-1.

Wednesday night also featured a pair of special occasions. The team celebrated their seven graduating seniors and Buddy Hayford coached the 500th game of his career.

Dal Nesbitt, the Wildcats’ leading scorer, had a monster day, scoring a hat trick and providing two assists. Colin Lozito and Nick Nilsen each added two goals, while Morrow Bernard and Jacob Hicks each put one in. Cade Nesbitt, Hank Sweeney, Keegan Reed, Nilsen, and Lozito all added assists as well. Twin Valley kept the pressure on Yellowjacket goalie Tanner Fitzherbert early and often, while the sophomore keeper was able to record a whopping 28 saves.

Hayford said that his team once again showed a well-rounded performance, their trademark this season. “It’s a mix of brilliant passes, teamwork, unselfishness, an ability to wear teams down, and finish our goals.”

As for an undefeated season, the Wildcats have only accomplished the feat once, going 16-0-1 en route to a state championship in 2001. Hayford says each game is a test, however, and his boys should be ready for a fight Friday night at Otter Valley Union. “An undefeated season is certainly attainable, no question about that,” said Hayford. “I would be very surprised if they were not able to pull that off, but you can’t count your chickens before they hatch. They’re smart boys and they know that, and they’re maintaining their edge even with the number one seed locked up with two games ago. It’s a season with a lot of milestones and this is another one. It’s been a magical ride.”

Twin Valley will try for their undefeated season Friday at 4 pm at Otter Valley Union in Brandon.